Knockdown or building-block toy



(No Model.)-

W s. REED.

KNOGKDOWN 0B. BUILDING BLOCK TOY. No. 276,539. Patented Apr.24,1883.

Witnesses Ihventor 54am. I, M;

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM s. REED, or LEoMINsrnR,

MASSACHUSETTS.

KNO'CKDOWN OR BUILDING-BLOCK TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,539, dated. April 24, 1883.

- Application filed March 14, 1883.

(No model.)

- had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a toy fort constructed in accordance with my invention, together with a miniature siege-gun in front of the same. Fig. 2 is aperspective view representing the destruction of the fort from the explosion of its magazine or from a mine placed thereunder. Fig. 3 is a transverse section representing the construction of the interior mechanism by which said destruction is effecled. Fig. 4 is a view of the lower portion of the fort converted into a packing-box for receiving the detachable portions thereof.

My present invention consists in atoy in which one of its portions is caused, by mechanism or devices connected therewith, to be thrown out of position, in order thatflits remaining detachable portions may be tossed and scattered in a confused mass similar to that produced by an explosion or accident, therelative arrangement of the parts of the toy in the construction of the object desired and the destruction of the continuity and integrity of the same from various causes affording instruction and amusement to the young.

To enable others to understand and apply my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner by which I carry it out.

In the said drawings, A represents the body of a rectangular box, the exterior of which is made to resemble afort of defense, being provided with lines to represent stone blocks a, arranged in courses, and with imitation portholes 6, and guns 0 projecting therefrom, also with a strong bulkhead, d, located in front of I an imaginary entrance. This bulk-head is supported by a large bolt, a, passing through its top, while its bottom is provided with a circular hole for the reception of a sliding pin, f, having a head, 9, the inner end of said pin passing through the side of the box, and abutting against a cylindrical rod, h, projecting from an upright support, '5, said rod being free to slide in guides 7070. At the ends of the inside of the box, at l l, are pivoted two levers, B

B, connected by a long rod, m, to each end of which is secured one end of a spring, n, the other end of the latter being caught over a hook, p, driven on the inside of the box near. its bottom. After the springs are attached to thelong connecting-rod, the levers B B are swung a partial revolution on their pivots till the rod is brought above the level of the top of the support t, which is then slid in place thereunder to aft'orda rest therefor. The cover 0 of the box is then placed thereon, and serves as the rool" of the fort, upon which are placed blocks a" s t, representing the coping, corners, &c.,oi' the same. a is a flag, and o c represent sentinels on guard.

A ball from a siege-gun, D, strikes the head g of the sliding pin fof the bulkhead, and, through the connections described,the support t is forced from under the rod m, when the sudden contraction of the springs 72 n causes the levers B B to tilt up, the result of which is that the roof, with the sentinels and other objects thereon, is projected into the air, as seen in Fig. 2, the effect illustrating the destruction of the fort by an explosion of its magazine or of a mine ignited by a besieging party.

The various detachable portions of the toy, when not required for use, are packed away within the box A, and its cover 0 placed thereon, in which form the contents are preserved from injury during transportation.

In the foregoing I have described the application of my present invention to a toy fort but the novel feature which I believe I have originated is a toy representing any object or thing so constructed that its continuity and integrity may be broken or destroyed by any means for separating and scattering some or all of its detachable portions, in order that an explosion thereof or accident thereto may be represented, and said essential feature of my invention I intend to illustrate by the blowing up of a gnu-boat or steamboat, the falling of a bridge, honse,or other edifice, the collision of a car, wagon, or other vehicle, the destrucin any suitable manner. The sides or other portion instead of the top of such toy may be displaced by one spring only, or a simple cord or wire connected with one or more weighted levers may be substituted therefor.

A toy of any of the objects enumerated and of the construction described serves to discipline and instruct the mind of a child While furnishing innocent amusement thereto.

I claim- Akuockdowntoycomposcdwhollyor partiall y of individual portions or building-blocks, one or more of which, when displaced by a device or mechanism connected therewith, causes the destruction of the integrity and continuity of the object formed thereby, said toy being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described and represented.

2. A toy having building-blocks employed in its construction, in combination with one or more springs which, when liberated, cause the separation of the detachable portions from their original position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A toy consisting of the box A, its cover 0, detachable blocks 1' s t u v, levers B B, connecting-rod m, support i, and a means of moving the same away from said rod, as set forth.

WILLIAM S. REED.

In presence of- F. J. LOTHROP, W. A. PUTNAM. 

